Shale Gas Conference Opens in Warsaw

19 May 2011

Ambassador Lee Feinstein and Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski in the audience at the Shale Gas Conference

The U.S. Embassy and the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs jointly hosted a Conference on “Shale Gas:  Managing Europe’s Emerging Resource” at the Copernicus Science Center in Warsaw on May 18.  U.S. Ambassador to Poland Lee Feinstein and Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski opened the conference, which focused on the potential of shale gas development in Poland and its impact on regional energy security.  In his opening remarks, Ambassador Feinstein said, “In our approaches to energy, the United States and Poland have much in common.  Energy is a pillar of Polish-American relations today, and is sure to be a subject of discussion when President Obama is in Warsaw next week.” 
 
The U.S. and Polish governments are working together to meet the unique regulatory challenges of environmentally responsible shale gas extraction.  A recent U.S. Energy Information Administration report estimates that Poland has recoverable shale gas resources of 5.3 trillion cubic meters (TCM), the largest of any European state studied and equal to over 300 years of Poland's annual gas consumption.  According to Ambassador Richard Morningstar, Special Envoy for Eurasian Energy and featured speaker at the conference, “Poland has a chance to become a leader in the shale gas revolution.”  The purpose of this year’s shale gas conference was to examine the strategic and practical issues of concern to governments, private sector, and local communities.   Ambassador Feinstein also commented that “diversifying our sources of energy and developing new sources that can reduce carbon emissions are matters of security for Poland, for Europe, and for the United States.”

In addition to sessions on the impact of shale gas on European energy security, panelists discussed “How Technology Can Enhance the Value of Unconventional Gas in Poland and Europe,” “Shale Gas Development, Responsible Stewardship, and Protecting the Environment,” “North American and European Shale Gas Regulations – Perspectives for Poland,” and “Shale Gas and Local Communities.”

The conference was sponsored by the Polish Exploration and Production Industry Organization (OPPPW) in partnership with the Warsaw University of Technology.